Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Cleaning House, Are We?!”

Plot and key events

• Qin Chuyu secretly leads Xie Yuchen through a frightening initiation ritual to join the mysterious X Club. Blindfolded and terrified, Xie Yuchen nevertheless continues because Qin has convinced him that the club can help him “change his fate.”
• Qin tells Xie a story about a poor man who gains wealth and status through an expert’s supernatural intervention, though his descendants must pay the price. The story motivates Xie Yuchen to accept the danger.
• At the initiation, Xie is challenged to prove his usefulness and rashly declares that he will do anything to join. Qin privately mocks him for being gullible.
• Meanwhile, Xie Chen hacks into Qin Huai’s accounts with Huo Wenye’s help. He uncovers deleted messages revealing that Qin Huai is connected to X Club and that the club’s real backing comes from the “Taiyu Perfected One.”
• Xie Chen learns that Taiyu Perfected One was expelled from the Six-Platform Mountain Taoist Academy and later founded an evil cult in the United States to shelter other evil cultivators.
• Realizing that X Club is part of a larger sinister organization, Xie Chen decides to expose and dismantle it. He proposes a television special investigating Harvard’s X Club, confident that the scandal will attract enormous public attention.
• The plan immediately generates excitement among viewers, many of whom share frightening stories about the club. The chapter ends with Taiyu Perfected One sensing that his secret has been discovered and reacting with alarm.

Character developments

• Xie Yuchen is shown as naïve, ambitious, and easily influenced. Despite his fear, he is determined to pursue wealth and status, making him vulnerable to Qin Chuyu’s manipulation.
• Qin Chuyu acts as Xie Yuchen’s guide but clearly treats him as a pawn. His warnings and mocking attitude suggest that he knows the initiation may be dangerous and does not feel responsible for the consequences.
• Xie Chen demonstrates strong investigative and technological abilities by recovering deleted messages and connecting X Club to a broader evil-cult network. He shifts quickly from investigation to decisive action, choosing public exposure as a weapon.
• Huo Wenye remains physically affectionate and clingy toward Xie Chen while quietly supporting his investigation. Their relationship is portrayed humorously through Xie Chen’s irritation and the narrator’s eagerness to openly ship them.
• Taiyu Perfected One is established as the hidden power behind X Club and as a dangerous figure who is now threatened by Xie Chen’s discovery.

Character interactions

• Qin Chuyu alternates between reassuring and intimidating Xie Yuchen, exploiting his fear and ambition to push him through the initiation.
• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye work closely together while hacking Qin Huai’s accounts, though Huo’s affectionate behavior distracts and annoys Xie Chen.
• Xie Chen collaborates with Director Li to turn the investigation into a television exposé, using media attention to challenge X Club.
• The online audience reacts enthusiastically, defending Xie Chen and adding rumors and personal accounts that reinforce the club’s sinister reputation.

Significant themes

• Manipulation and gullibility: Xie Yuchen’s desire for success makes him accept implausible promises and dangerous conditions.
• Power and hidden organizations: The apparently respectable X Club is revealed to be connected to an underground cult and corrupt supernatural authority.
• Justice through exposure: Xie Chen chooses public investigation and media scrutiny to “clean house,” suggesting that truth and public accountability can defeat secretive forces.
• Ambition and the price of success: The story of exchanging descendants’ fortune for present prosperity reflects the dangers of pursuing wealth without considering long-term consequences.
• Humor amid danger: Romantic teasing, audience commentary, and Xie Chen’s sarcastic reactions lighten the otherwise ominous revelations.

Director Chen refused Boss Luo’s request to disrupt production, and filming continued as Luo Mingyu protested the increasingly intimate scenes. During the pool scene, Li Sifan kissed him off-script and revealed he had wanted to do it years ago.

• Director Chen rejected Boss Luo’s request to abandon production halfway through filming.
• Luo Mingyu asked Director Chen to tone down the intimate scenes, but she told him to prepare for swimming class.
• Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan changed into swimwear, and Luo Mingyu became flustered when he touched Li Sifan’s chest.
• Director Chen added a blackout-and-kiss scene, then Li Sifan pinned Luo Mingyu underwater during the pool scene and confronted him about a love letter.
• Luo Mingyu called Li Sifan’s feelings disgusting, so Li Sifan pulled him close and kissed him in the pool.
• After Director Chen praised the take, Li Sifan told Luo Mingyu he had wanted to kiss him years ago.

Chapter Summary: “Just Because I Don’t Like You!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• During Xie Chen’s class, Xie Yuchen is caught dozing off after apparently drinking the night before. When mocked by classmates, he suddenly draws a dagger and attacks Xie Chen.
• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye react immediately. Huo Wenye knocks the weapon away and kicks Xie Yuchen to the ground before he can cause harm.
• Xie Yuchen behaves unnaturally, struggling and making inhuman sounds. The incident is recorded and broadcast online, leading viewers to speculate that he has been possessed or controlled by X Club.
• Xie Chen discovers a hidden talisman on the back of Xie Yuchen’s neck. He uses a powerful Supreme Backlash Spell to neutralize the talisman and incapacitate Xie Yuchen.
• The spell harms the person responsible: an old man meditating in a hidden Buddhist hall. Realizing that Xie Chen has traced the attack back to him, the old man orders Qin Huai to flee immediately.
• After regaining consciousness at a police station, Xie Yuchen insists that he was controlled and has no memory of attacking Xie Chen. Surveillance footage appears to confirm that he assaulted the professor, but he claims he was framed or manipulated.
• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye visit him during interrogation. Xie Yuchen asks them for help, but Xie Chen responds skeptically. Huo Wenye bluntly says he kicked Xie Yuchen simply because he dislikes him, adding that Xie Yuchen could never have seriously harmed Xie Chen anyway.

Character Developments

• Xie Chen: Demonstrates his composure, combat ability, and mastery of spiritual techniques. He identifies the controlling talisman and directly retaliates against the hidden mastermind, showing confidence and ruthlessness.
• Huo Wenye: Protects Xie Chen efficiently and displays his own formidable physical ability. His hostility toward Xie Yuchen remains openly personal and humorously blunt.
• Xie Yuchen: Is revealed as an unwilling weapon, apparently controlled through a talisman after joining X Club. He is frightened and confused after awakening, desperately trying to convince others that he was not acting of his own will.
• The old man and Qin Huai: The old man is established as the likely mastermind behind the manipulation. His confidence turns to fear after Xie Chen’s backlash spell injures him, prompting an urgent escape.
• The classmates and livestream audience: Their fear of Xie Chen’s class contrasts with their fascination and admiration once the supernatural conflict is broadcast publicly.

Significant Themes

• Control and manipulation: Xie Yuchen’s actions raise questions about personal responsibility when someone’s body is controlled by an outside force.
• Power and retaliation: Xie Chen’s backlash spell demonstrates that attacking him carries immediate consequences, even for hidden enemies.
• Public exposure: The livestream turns a dangerous supernatural incident into a spectacle, allowing viewers to speculate about X Club and the people behind it.
• Fear versus confidence: The students and police are overwhelmed by the strange event, while Xie Chen and Huo Wenye remain calm and in control.
• Humor amid danger: Huo Wenye’s final remark—that he kicked Xie Yuchen simply because he dislikes him—lightens the tense interrogation scene and reinforces their antagonistic relationship.

Important Character Interactions

• Xie Chen and Xie Yuchen: Xie Yuchen attacks Xie Chen while under supernatural control; later, he begs Xie Chen to believe and rescue him. Xie Chen listens but remains doubtful and teasing.
• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye: They coordinate seamlessly during the attack. Xie Chen identifies the talisman, while Huo Wenye restrains Xie Yuchen and follows his instructions.
• Xie Chen and the hidden old man: Though they never meet directly, Xie Chen’s spell reaches and injures the old man, creating a direct supernatural confrontation.
• Huo Wenye and Xie Yuchen: Huo Wenye saves Xie Chen from possible danger but makes clear that his intervention was motivated by dislike rather than concern for Xie Yuchen.
• The old man and Qin Huai: The old man commands Qin Huai to escape after realizing Xie Chen can locate and punish them, revealing the mastermind’s fear of Xie Chen’s abilities.

Luo Mingyu learned that his father had tried to blacklist him, while Li Jingfei and Director Chen helped him keep his role and staged a classroom blackout scene with Li Sifan. The scene ended with Luo realizing Li Sifan had kissed him and attacking him, while the women hoped the fight would lead to an infirmary scene.

• Luo's dad recalled how Li Sifan had repeatedly protected Luo Mingyu and decided not to post his exposé yet.
• Li Jingfei visited the set, and Luo Mingyu learned that his father had tried to blacklist him but Director Chen had refused to drop him from the drama.
• Li Jingfei encouraged Luo Mingyu to treasure the role, while Li Sifan worried that the setup would make Luo turn against him.
• During the staged classroom blackout, Luo Mingyu shouted that someone had kissed him, and Li Sifan teased him when the lights came back on.
• Luo Mingyu noticed Li Sifan's stubble and realized Li Sifan had kissed him before, then lunged at him as Li Jingfei and Director Chen hoped to film an infirmary scene.

Chapter Summary

Plot and events

Zhang Fang learns that her biological son, Xie Yuchen, has been arrested abroad for attempting to injure Professor Smith with a knife. Rather than accept his responsibility, she blames Xie Chen and refuses to seek his forgiveness, despite being told that the victim’s cooperation is necessary for bail. Xie Zhenting confronts her, while Xie Ran tries to manipulate the situation by offering to persuade her. Zhenting instead questions Ran about his statement to the police and accuses him of hiding the truth about his own wrongdoing and imprisonment. Their argument exposes the growing hostility within the Xie family, with Ran bitterly resenting Zhenting’s continued attachment to Xie Chen.

• At school, Qin Chuyu approaches Xie Chen after class under the pretense of concern. Xie Chen sees through his evasive explanations about Xie Yuchen’s membership in X Club and learns that Qin’s brother once knew the club’s gathering place. Qin, eager to spend time with Xie Chen, offers to lead him there. That evening, he takes Xie Chen through dangerous American alleyways to an abandoned-looking Buddhist hall. Xie Chen immediately recognizes that Taoist evil cultivators are hiding inside, explaining why the special department had failed to locate them. Just as he is about to reveal more, Huo Wenye appears behind him with a jealous warning about Xie Chen using the “handsome-man tactic” again.

Character developments

• Zhang Fang remains blindly protective of Xie Yuchen and refuses to acknowledge his crimes, revealing her irrational favoritism and unwillingness to reconcile with Xie Chen.
• Xie Zhenting becomes increasingly disillusioned with Xie Ran and openly admits that he regrets bringing him back into the family, while showing that he still cares deeply about Xie Chen.
• Xie Ran drops much of his false innocence, reacting with resentment when confronted and revealing jealousy toward Xie Chen’s former place in the family.
• Qin Chuyu attempts to get closer to Xie Chen through calculated helpfulness, but his eagerness and concealed motives make him suspicious.
• Xie Chen remains sharp, confident, and mocking, quickly identifying deception and recognizing the supernatural threat at the Buddhist hall.
• Huo Wenye’s sudden appearance highlights his protectiveness and jealousy toward Xie Chen.

Themes

The chapter emphasizes the contrast between genuine and false family bonds, showing how Zhang Fang and Xie Ran use “blood ties” selectively while rejecting accountability. It also explores betrayal, favoritism, manipulation, and the consequences of protecting wrongdoing. The lighter romantic-comedic thread between Xie Chen, Qin Chuyu, and Huo Wenye offsets the darker family conflict and supernatural danger.

Character interactions

The major confrontations are between Zhang Fang and the police investigator, Zhang Fang and Xie Zhenting, and Xie Zhenting and Xie Ran. At school, Xie Chen coldly interrogates Qin Chuyu about his connection to Xie Yuchen and X Club. Qin’s attempt to use the club’s location to gain Xie Chen’s trust leads them into a supernatural investigation, which is interrupted by Huo Wenye’s teasingly possessive accusation.

Chapter Summary: “Can I Be Happy About That?!”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Chuyu confronts Xie Chen and accuses him of betraying him after his confession is rejected. Xie Chen dismisses him harshly, while the livestream audience mocks Qin Chuyu’s past behavior and apparent attempts to damage Xie Chen’s reputation.
• Qin Chuyu leaves angrily after threatening that Xie Chen will eventually regret his decision. The cameraman adds to his humiliation by ridiculing his failed confession and sudden concern about privacy.
• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye investigate a deserted Buddhist hall. Although the hall contains a Buddha statue, its pillars bear damaged Taoist talismans, suggesting that the location has a hidden or abnormal history.
• Touching the talismans triggers part of Xie Chen’s memory. He recalls being stuffed into a sack and beaten at the Buddhist hall but cannot remember who rescued him or what happened afterward.
• Huo Wenye appears disappointed and resentful that Xie Chen remembers the violence but not the person who saved him. Xie Chen tries to comfort him, assuming he is merely upset about the memory loss.
• On their way back, armed foreigners ambush them and demand money. Xie Chen recognizes them as drug users they encountered earlier and suspects they may have been hired to attack them.
• Huo Wenye violently overwhelms the attackers, seemingly using the fight to vent his frustration. Xie Chen intervenes before the beating becomes fatal and asks the cameraman to contact the police.
• Huo Wenye finally reveals the real source of his anger: he once died for Xie Chen, yet Xie Chen has no memory of it. He bitterly asks how he could possibly be happy about being forgotten.

2. Character Developments

• Xie Chen: Remains sharp-tongued and confident, easily rejecting Qin Chuyu’s emotional manipulation. His investigation begins to restore memories connected to the Buddhist hall, but the recovered fragments are incomplete. He also shows concern for Huo Wenye and tries to soothe him, though he fails to understand the deeper reason for Huo’s pain.
• Huo Wenye: His usual restraint gives way to visible jealousy, hurt, and anger. He is particularly wounded that Xie Chen remembers being attacked but not Huo’s role in saving him—or the fact that Huo died for him. His brutal response to the robbers exposes how strongly these suppressed emotions affect him.
• Qin Chuyu: His rejected confession confirms his possessive and vindictive attitude. He lashes out at Xie Chen, threatens him, and leaves humiliated after both Xie Chen and the cameraman ridicule him.
• The Cameraman: Acts as a comedic commentator and the livestream audience’s outspoken representative. He fearlessly mocks Qin Chuyu and reacts humorously to Huo Wenye’s excessive violence.
• The Livestream Audience: Provides comic commentary while also speculating about the Buddhist hall, Xie Chen’s lost memories, Huo Wenye’s connection to him, and Qin Chuyu’s possible involvement.

3. Significant Themes

• Unrequited and misplaced devotion: Qin Chuyu’s confession contrasts with Huo Wenye’s deeper, long-standing devotion to Xie Chen, emphasizing the difference between possessive desire and self-sacrificing love.
• Memory and identity: Xie Chen’s fragmented recollections suggest that his past has been deliberately concealed or erased. What he remembers—and what he still cannot recall—directly affects his relationships.
• Emotional consequences of sacrifice: Huo Wenye’s anger stems not simply from being forgotten, but from the painful belief that his sacrifice for Xie Chen meant little if Xie cannot remember it.
• Hidden conspiracies: The Buddhist hall, damaged talismans, Xie Chen’s past assault, and the possible involvement of Club X hint at a larger mystery.
• Comedy amid danger: The livestream commentary, cameraman’s insults, and exaggerated reactions create humor even during emotionally tense confrontations and violent encounters.

4. Character Interactions

• Qin Chuyu and Xie Chen: Qin Chuyu demands emotional recognition, but Xie Chen rejects him with disgust, making clear that he has no romantic interest in him.
• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye: Their interaction reveals an emotional mismatch: Xie Chen casually tries to coax Huo, while Huo is deeply hurt by the missing memory of his sacrifice. Their relationship is intimate and familiar, but complicated by Xie Chen’s amnesia.
• Huo Wenye and the attackers: Huo uses the robbery as an outlet for his suppressed anger, nearly killing the men before Xie Chen stops him.
• Xie Chen and the cameraman: They share an unspoken understanding and comedic partnership, especially when reacting to Qin Chuyu and Huo Wenye’s behavior.
• Livestream viewers and the unfolding events: The audience interprets the characters’ cryptic exchange and helps highlight the implied romantic history between Xie Chen and Huo Wenye, though their speculation is deliberately exaggerated and humorous.

Chapter Summary: “Press the Advantage, Land the Winning Blow!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After escaping the alley, the cameraman encounters police and reports the attack on the addicts. He notices Qin Chuyu fleeing nearby but chooses not to investigate because he is more concerned about Brother Ye’s condition.
• Qin Chuyu takes a taxi and privately curses the addicts for being defeated despite having weapons. Soon afterward, his brother Qin Huai calls and angrily scolds him for bringing Xie Chen to the Buddha Hall during a livestream.
• Qin Huai reveals that although the group responsible for the Buddha Hall has evacuated, their remaining aura and rune traces could allow Xie Chen to track them back to their base. Qin Chuyu becomes frightened but tries to reassure himself that Xie Chen is not capable of discovering the truth.
• At the police station, Xie Chen identifies Qin Chuyu in surveillance footage as someone connected to the addicts. The police decide to question Qin Chuyu and allow Xie Chen, Huo Wenye, and the cameraman to leave.
• The police captain recognizes Xie Chen as the famous Professor Smith and clarifies that Xie Chen was not the person who defeated the addicts, implying that Huo Wenye’s abilities are unusual.
• Back at school, the cameraman tells Director Li about the incident while Xie Chen and Huo Wenye return to their dormitory. Huo Wenye remains distant after accidentally mentioning that Xie Chen had “died for him once.”
• Huo Wenye privately reflects that Xie Chen must recover his memories naturally. He fears that forcing the memories of Xie Chen’s past and present lives together could damage him, and he is determined not to lose this second chance to protect him.
• After showering, Huo Wenye asks Xie Chen to sleep beside him. Xie Chen initially worries about the cramped bed and feels embarrassed, but ultimately agrees. Their flirtatious exchange excites the livestream audience.

Character Developments

• Qin Chuyu: His confidence collapses after learning that bringing Xie Chen to the Buddha Hall may expose his family’s hidden activities. He remains self-serving and contemptuous of the addicts, but his fear shows that he understands the seriousness of the threat.
• Qin Huai: He acts as the more informed and cautious member of the Qin family, warning Qin Chuyu about the spiritual traces left behind at the Buddha Hall. His anger emphasizes the danger of Xie Chen uncovering their secrets.
• Xie Chen: He remains confused about Huo Wenye’s cryptic reference to his past death and struggles with his fragmented memories. At the same time, he shows concern about Huo Wenye’s mood and tries earnestly—though awkwardly—to appease him.
• Huo Wenye: His coldness masks deep anxiety and devotion. He suppresses his knowledge of Xie Chen’s past, believing that forcing him to remember would be dangerous. He also takes advantage of Xie Chen’s guilt to draw him physically closer, revealing a more playful and assertive side.
• The police captain: His respect for Xie Chen highlights Xie Chen’s reputation, while his observation that Huo Wenye is “not ordinary” hints at Huo’s hidden strength or identity.

Significant Themes

• Hidden identities and concealed truths: The Buddha Hall, residual aura, and runes suggest a larger supernatural or conspiratorial plot that Qin Chuyu’s family is trying to hide.
• Memory and past lives: Huo Wenye’s fear of Xie Chen’s memories reflects the danger of confronting the past and the emotional burden of their previous relationship.
• Protection and second chances: Huo’s determination to protect Xie Chen shows how deeply he values their renewed relationship and fears losing him again.
• Romantic tension and emotional avoidance: Both men care deeply about each other but avoid speaking directly about their feelings. Their teasing and awkwardness function as a substitute for honest communication.
• Public versus private life: The livestream turns their private interactions into entertainment, with viewers enthusiastically interpreting every exchange as romantic progress.

Character Interactions

• Qin Chuyu and Qin Huai: Qin Huai reprimands Qin Chuyu for his reckless decision and warns him that Xie Chen may expose their secrets.
• Xie Chen and the police: Xie Chen calmly identifies Qin Chuyu, cooperating just enough to help the investigation before leaving with Huo Wenye.
• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye: Their tension centers on Huo’s unexplained anger and Xie Chen’s attempts to placate him. Huo ultimately asks Xie Chen to share the bed, turning the conflict into a flirtatious moment.
• Xie Chen and the livestream audience: Though unaware of every viewer reaction, Xie Chen and Huo’s awkward closeness becomes a source of intense excitement and comedic commentary for the fans.

Xie Chen shared an intimate bed with Huo Wenye while Qin Chuyu was taken away by police, convinced Huo Wenye had arranged his downfall. On the film set, Li Sifan pulled Luo Mingyu close and asked whether he had fooled Luo Mingyu’s heart, leaving Luo Mingyu flustered.

• Huo Wenye tucked Xie Chen into bed and held him close, stirring a sense of familiarity in Xie Chen.
• Police arrested Qin Chuyu for incitement to commit a crime, and Qin Chuyu blamed Huo Wenye as they took him away.
• Luo Mingyu told Li Sifan that the script seemed based on their past, while Li Sifan concealed that his sister was the screenwriter.
• During filming, Luo Mingyu took over treating Li Sifan’s wound after the nurse teased them about being close.
• Li Sifan wrapped an arm around Luo Mingyu and asked if he had fooled Luo Mingyu’s heart, leaving Luo Mingyu speechless and flustered.

Chapter Summary: “Squeezing Together Openly”

Key Plot Points and Events

• News of Qin Chuyu’s arrest in the United States becomes public in China alongside the Xie Family scandal. Social media erupts, with widespread condemnation of the Xie Family, Qin Chuyu, and the collapsing Xie Group.
• The Xie Group’s stock falls for three consecutive days, while authorities announce an investigation based on substantial evidence. The board warns that the Xie Family will be removed from control unless they can resolve the crisis.
• In the CEO’s office, Zhang Fang angrily confronts her eldest son, Xie Zhenting, blaming him for the company’s problems. She reveals that the company has been operating at a deficit and that money was secretly transferred away.
• Zhang Fang suspects Xie Zhenting and Xie Yongan of embezzling funds, but before the matter can be clarified, the family learns that the comatose Xie Yongan has disappeared from the hospital.
• Zhang Fang, Xie Zhenting, and Xie Jinran rush to the hospital, where doctors confirm that Xie Yongan vanished during the night. His disappearance leaves the family shocked and suggests that their understanding of the family’s situation may have been false.
• Meanwhile, Xie Chen wakes beside Huo Wenye. Huo is holding him tightly and warns him not to jump, apparently reacting to a nightmare connected to Xie Chen’s tragic past.
• Huo Wenye kisses Xie Chen and calls him “darling,” causing both Xie Chen and the livestream audience to react with surprise. Xie Chen denies being jealous when Huo teases him.
• The chapter ends with Huo deliberately insisting that he and Xie Chen share the bathroom, reinforcing their increasingly intimate and openly affectionate relationship.

Character Developments

• Zhang Fang becomes increasingly desperate and hostile as she realizes the Xie Family’s wealth and influence may have been an illusion. Her anger turns toward her own family members.
• Xie Zhenting is stunned by the possibility that his father secretly drained the company’s funds. His confidence and authority begin to collapse under the pressure.
• Xie Jinran experiences despair, questioning whether the Xie Family ever possessed genuine affection or loyalty.
• Xie Yongan’s disappearance creates a major mystery and implies that he may be more capable or involved than the family believed.
• Xie Chen remains defensive and sarcastic toward Huo Wenye, but he is also increasingly attentive to Huo’s behavior and concerned about his nightmares and physical discomfort.
• Huo Wenye openly displays affection and possessiveness toward Xie Chen. His nightmare reveals deep fear surrounding the possibility of losing him, likely connected to Xie Chen’s death in a previous life.

Significant Themes

• The collapse of a corrupt family and institution: The Xie Family’s public reputation and corporate power disintegrate as hidden crimes and financial wrongdoing are exposed.
• Illusions of family and wealth: The revelation that Xie Group may be an empty shell forces the characters to confront how little security or genuine affection existed within the family.
• Trauma and second chances: Xie Chen’s memories of imprisonment, torture, and suicide contrast with his current life, where Huo Wenye tries to protect and cherish him.
• Public judgment and accountability: Social media and legal authorities act as forces exposing wrongdoing that the Xie Family once believed it could conceal.
• Growing intimacy: Huo and Xie Chen’s physical closeness becomes increasingly open, while Xie Chen’s resistance appears more embarrassed than genuinely rejecting.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Fang violently confronts Xie Zhenting, blaming him for the company’s downfall and striking him during the argument.
• Zhang Fang, Xie Zhenting, and Xie Jinran react with panic when they discover Xie Yongan has disappeared.
• Huo Wenye comforts Xie Chen in his sleep, calls him “darling,” and kisses him after waking from a nightmare.
• Xie Chen responds with sarcasm and denial, but notices Huo’s awkward sleeping position and suggests a larger bed.
• Huo rejects the suggestion because he prefers being physically close, then forces another intimate, comedic moment by sharing the bathroom with Xie Chen.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Yongan secretly returns to the Xie residence to retrieve his identification, passport, and other important belongings. Despite his fractured legs, he can walk with the help of a talisman created by his master.
• Xie Ran catches him in the study. Xie Yongan learns that Zhang Fang and Xie Ran reported him to the police for illegally detaining them.
• Xie Yongan reveals that he previously transferred the Xie Group’s money into overseas accounts disguised as investments. He plans to flee abroad and rebuild his fortune.
• He manipulates Xie Ran into promising not to expose him by offering to take him overseas and restore his status as a wealthy young master.
• Xie Ran asks for a keepsake. Xie Yongan gives him a valuable jade pendant, claiming it is worth tens of millions. Xie Ran accepts it as financial insurance.
• After Xie Yongan escapes through the back door, Zhang Fang arrives and reveals that he has fled with the family’s money. Xie Ran pretends to be shocked, while privately realizing that he must prepare for the Xie Family’s collapse.
• Xie Ran inspects the jade pendant and decides it could secure his future if the family loses everything.
• At a ferry terminal, Xie Yongan waits for a smuggling boat and contacts his mysterious master about the pendant.
• The master reveals that the jade pendant is connected to a larger scheme and that Xie Yongan is still useful because of the stolen funds.
• The master intends to eliminate Xie Yongan after the money is transferred. Qin Huai volunteers to kill him and silence him.

Character Developments

• Xie Yongan: Becomes increasingly desperate and ruthless as he attempts to escape prosecution with the family’s wealth. He manipulates Xie Ran but remains unaware that his master plans to betray and kill him.
• Xie Ran: Demonstrates cunning and opportunism. He pretends to remain loyal to his father while secretly securing the valuable pendant and reconsidering his loyalty to Zhang Fang, whom he recognizes as powerless.
• Zhang Fang: Reveals her incompetence and lack of control after Xie Yongan steals the family’s money. Her anger is directed at others rather than accompanied by any effective action.
• The Master: Is exposed as manipulative and calculating. He has supported Xie Yongan only for access to his money and now plans to dispose of him once he is no longer useful.
• Qin Huai: Acts as the master’s loyal subordinate and is prepared to carry out the murder.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal and self-preservation: Nearly every character prioritizes survival and personal gain over family loyalty.
• The collapse of wealth and family power: Xie Yongan’s flight and embezzlement threaten to destroy the Xie Family’s privileged position.
• Manipulation and false loyalty: Xie Ran and Xie Yongan both use affectionate family language to conceal their real intentions.
• Greed and moral corruption: The stolen fortune drives the characters’ decisions, while the master’s willingness to murder Xie Yongan shows how completely money has replaced loyalty.
• Hidden consequences: The jade pendant appears to be a gift but is tied to the master’s larger supernatural scheme, suggesting future danger for Xie Ran.

Character Interactions

• Xie Yongan confronts Xie Ran about testifying against him, then quickly shifts to bribing and recruiting him.
• Xie Ran deceives Xie Yongan by acting frightened and devoted while extracting the jade pendant.
• Zhang Fang complains to Xie Ran about Xie Yongan’s escape, prompting Xie Ran to reassess his allegiance.
• Xie Yongan reports to his master about the pendant, only to learn that the master intends to have him killed.
• Qin Huai confirms his loyalty by offering to execute Xie Yongan once the master’s financial objective is achieved.

Chapter Summary: “Straight for the Weak Spot!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Fei informs Xie Chen that Xie Yongan has disappeared, likely escaping overseas by smuggling himself out. Xie Chen reveals that he anticipated this and had even arranged the smuggling boat himself, suggesting he is deliberately controlling Xie Yongan’s escape.
• Lu Fei worries that Xie Yongan may target Xie Chen or harm his grandmother, but admits that the heavily guarded Huo family has isolated Grandma from outside contact.
• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye discuss whether Grandma’s illness is natural or the result of supernatural interference. Huo Wenye speculates that Taiyu Perfected One and the supposedly evil cultivators behind X Club may have cursed her.
• Their conversation sparks heated debate among livestream viewers, with some accepting the supernatural explanation and others insisting on a scientific interpretation.
• Xie Chen receives a report that certain clues have been handed over to the police. In return, he promises to send his associates Wealth-Gathering Talismans, reinforcing his role as someone who mixes practical investigation with mystical methods.
• During an afternoon break, the production crew takes Xie Chen and Huo Wenye to a boxing club as a “special gift.” There, they find Chen Chen badly beaten and discouraged after losing repeatedly.
• Xie Chen confronts Chen Chen’s new coach, suspecting that the coach is deliberately forcing him to fight opponents in an unfair weight class. When the coach becomes aggressive and orders them to leave, Xie Chen punches him in the lower jaw.
• Xie Chen uses the confrontation to teach Chen Chen that, against a much larger opponent, he should not hold back but should attack the opponent’s weak spot directly.

Character Developments

• Xie Chen continues to demonstrate foresight, confidence, and strategic control. He remains calm about Xie Yongan’s escape and appears to be manipulating events from behind the scenes.
• He also shows increasing trust in Huo Wenye, openly sharing his deepest suspicions instead of maintaining his usual emotional defenses.
• Huo Wenye becomes unusually talkative and actively helps shape the public narrative against X Club and Taiyu Perfected One. His protectiveness is evident through the Huo family’s strict security around Grandma.
• Lu Fei feels increasingly powerless as Huo Wenye’s influence and resources eclipse his own ability to help Xie Chen’s family.
• Chen Chen is physically and emotionally battered, believing that his failure reflects personal uselessness. Xie Chen restores his confidence by identifying the unfair circumstances behind his defeats.
• The livestream audience continues to interpret events through conflicting lenses—supernatural belief, skepticism, and entertainment.

Significant Themes

• Control and hidden planning: Xie Chen’s prior arrangement of Xie Yongan’s escape suggests that apparent threats may actually be part of his larger strategy.
• Trust and intimacy: Xie Chen’s willingness to confide in Huo Wenye signals a major shift in their relationship.
• Science versus superstition: The discussion of curses, evil cultivators, and talismans creates tension between rational explanations and supernatural possibilities.
• Protection and power: The Huo family’s security, Xie Chen’s influence, and the coach’s abuse all highlight how power can be used either to protect or exploit others.
• Fighting unfairness with precision: The chapter’s central lesson is to identify an opponent’s vulnerability and attack decisively rather than relying only on brute strength.

Character Interactions

• Xie Chen and Lu Fei discuss Xie Yongan’s disappearance and Grandma’s safety, revealing Lu Fei’s concern and frustration.
• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye openly analyze Grandma’s illness, with Huo Wenye pushing a suspicious explanation involving X Club.
• Xie Chen interacts warmly with his associates when they report progress, rewarding their loyalty with talismans.
• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye’s close companionship prompts humorous speculation from Harvard students about whether they are a couple.
• Xie Chen comforts and challenges Chen Chen, transforming the younger boy’s humiliation into a lesson.
• His confrontation with the boxing coach establishes Xie Chen as fiercely protective and willing to act immediately when he sees someone being mistreated.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Chen’s production team surprises him by arranging for him to join a boxing club, fulfilling Xie Chen’s promise to help him train.
• At the club, Chen Chen is forced to spar against a much larger trainee. The coach appears to ignore weight-class fairness and treats Chen Chen harshly, suggesting discrimination against him as a Chinese trainee.
• When the coach and trainees continue bullying Chen Chen and tell him to return to Hua Nation, Xie Chen intervenes. He defeats the coach with two powerful punches.
• The coach accuses Xie Chen of causing trouble and orders the trainees to attack him together, promising them rewards and threatening those who refuse.
• Chen Chen defends Xie Chen, declaring that he will fight anyone who tries to hurt him. The trainees reluctantly surround Xie Chen, but he easily kicks away the first attacker, causing the others to hesitate.
• President Qi arrives and reveals that Xie Chen is actually “President Xie,” a powerful figure connected to the elite boxing club. Xie Chen orders an investigation into how the coach was hired and rejects the coach’s desperate apology.
• Xie Chen reminds the coach that he explicitly threatened to gang up on him, making clear that the coach’s punishment is now unavoidable.

2. Character Developments

• Xie Chen: Demonstrates overwhelming physical ability, confidence, and protectiveness toward Chen Chen. He also reveals a hidden position of authority within the club, showing that his influence extends far beyond what the others assumed.
• Chen Chen: Becomes more assertive and loyal. Rather than quietly accepting mistreatment, he openly challenges the club and stands up for Xie Chen, showing how much he trusts and admires him.
• The coach: Is exposed as abusive, discriminatory, cowardly, and dependent on power over weaker trainees. His confidence collapses once he realizes Xie Chen outranks him.
• The trainees: Initially follow the coach out of fear or ambition, but they hesitate when ordered to attack Xie Chen, suggesting that many do not genuinely support the coach.
• Director Li and Huo Wenye: Director Li worries about the consequences of a fight, while Huo Wenye remains calm and recognizes that Xie Chen and Chen Chen are willing to confront the club directly.

3. Significant Themes

• Standing up against bullying and discrimination: Chen Chen is mistreated because of his background and status, but Xie Chen refuses to let the abuse continue.
• Loyalty and protection: Chen Chen’s willingness to fight for Xie Chen reflects the bond between them, while Xie Chen protects Chen Chen from exploitation.
• Abuse of authority: The coach uses threats, favoritism, and promises of competition opportunities to control the trainees.
• Hidden power and identity: Xie Chen’s revealed status completely changes the balance of power, exposing how differently the coach treats people based on rank.
• Courage versus herd mentality: The trainees are initially pressured into ganging up on Xie Chen, but their reluctance shows that their obedience is motivated by fear rather than conviction.

4. Character Interactions

• Xie Chen confronts the coach after witnessing Chen Chen’s unfair treatment.
• Chen Chen identifies the trainees who bullied him, trusting Xie Chen to handle the situation.
• Chen Chen loudly defends Xie Chen and volunteers to fight alongside him.
• The coach attempts to manipulate the trainees into attacking Xie Chen, but his plan falters after Xie Chen effortlessly defeats the first challenger.
• President Qi recognizes Xie Chen’s authority, prompting the coach’s identity and position to be exposed.
• Xie Chen dismisses the coach’s apology and orders an investigation, ending the chapter with the coach facing serious consequences.

Chapter Summary: “The Whole Country Is Waiting to Watch!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Chen confronts the club’s management after discovering that the newly hired boxing coach abused his authority and mistreated young athletes.
• He orders President Qi Yunda to investigate the coach’s résumé, identify the people who approved his hiring, revoke the coach’s license, and publicly announce the results.
• Xie also demands that Paul Chen, the overweight athlete who used the coach’s protection to bully others and violate rules, be expelled from the club.
• Although Qi initially doubts Xie’s judgment, the coach’s nervous reaction and the evidence Xie identifies confirm that the résumé was falsified.
• The coach is fired and told to collect three months’ salary, while Paul is dismissed with him.
• The program crew and livestream audience are stunned to learn that Xie Chen casually bought the club. His intimidating strength and decisive leadership reinforce his mysterious, powerful image.
• At the end of the day, Xie, Chen Chen, and Huo Wenye leave the club. Chen Chen jokes that Huo Wenye still has not confessed his feelings, prompting the livestream audience to eagerly anticipate a romantic development.

Character Developments

• Xie Chen: Demonstrates authority, sharp investigative instincts, physical strength, and a strong sense of justice. Despite claiming he bought the club “for fun,” he actively protects young athletes and refuses to tolerate corruption or bullying.
• Qi Yunda: Initially skeptical of Xie and quietly questions whether he is merely acting powerful. After seeing Xie’s deductions prove correct, Qi becomes convinced of his competence and follows his orders decisively.
• The coach: Revealed to be dishonest and corrupt. His panic when confronted confirms his résumé fraud, and he loses both his position and professional license.
• Paul Chen: Exposed as a bully who depended on the coach’s protection. His talent is no longer accepted as an excuse for misconduct, and he is expelled alongside the coach.
• Chen Chen: Shows pride and determination despite being mocked for nearly crying after being beaten. He insists that he wants rigorous training and does not want to succeed merely through Xie’s influence.
• Huo Wenye: Remains quiet and emotionally restrained, but Chen Chen’s teasing suggests that he may have romantic feelings he has not yet expressed.
• Qi Yunda and the crew: Move from confusion and doubt to admiration as Xie’s abilities and identity become increasingly impressive.

Significant Themes

• Justice over favoritism: Xie refuses to overlook bullying or dishonesty, even when the offender is a promising athlete.
• Merit and personal effort: Chen Chen wants to prove himself through genuine ability rather than relying on connections.
• Power and hidden identities: Xie’s wealth, strength, intelligence, and mysterious past continue to astonish everyone around him.
• Public entertainment and romance: The livestream audience turns the characters’ interactions into a spectacle, eagerly waiting for Huo Wenye to confess his feelings.
• Growing independence: Chen Chen wants to stand on his own, while Xie’s actions show that protection and discipline can coexist.

Character Interactions

• Xie and Qi have a tense but respectful exchange, with Xie giving direct orders and Qi gradually recognizing his authority.
• Xie’s confrontation with the coach exposes the coach’s fraud and forces Qi to fire him.
• Xie and Chen Chen argue affectionately about Chen Chen’s injury, dependence, and future training. Chen Chen insists he wants to earn his place fairly.
• Chen Chen teases Huo Wenye about confessing his feelings, bluntly telling him that the entire country is waiting to see him “use his mouth.”
• The livestream audience amplifies the humor, praises Xie’s intervention, supports Chen Chen, and eagerly anticipates the possible romance between Huo Wenye and Xie Chen.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• After being fired from the boxing club, the former coach visits Qin Huai’s law firm and invokes his membership in the mysterious X Club to force a meeting.
• The coach reveals that he had infiltrated the club under Master’s orders to arrange fixed boxing matches and generate profits. Since he failed, Master has withdrawn his promised financial support.
• When the coach threatens to expose Master, Qin Huai intimidates him by reminding him of the club’s extensive influence and its history of making troublesome members disappear.
• After the coach leaves, Qin Huai reports to Master that Xie Chen has acquired the club. Master admits he underestimated Xie Chen and blames his failure to suppress Xie Chen’s luck for the unexpected changes in fate.
• Back at the dormitory, Huo Wenye confronts Xie Chen about secretly purchasing the club and jokes about whether Xie Chen viewed him as a “sucker” or “sugar daddy” when he funded the variety show.
• Their flirtatious confrontation is interrupted when Xie Chen shuts off the livestream, frustrating the watching audience.
• Lu Fei gives Sun Feng compensation from Xie Group. He explains that the company has effectively collapsed, but Xie Chen’s advance asset-preservation measures ensured that Sun Feng received fifty million.
• Lu Fei praises Xie Chen’s calculated revenge: dismantling Xie Group, uncovering the mastermind, and trapping everyone involved.

2. Character Developments

• Xie Chen is revealed to be far more strategic and financially powerful than others realized. His acquisition of the boxing club and careful handling of Xie Group demonstrate his foresight and control.
• Qin Huai appears ruthless and fearful beneath his professional exterior. Although he threatens the coach, he is clearly unsettled by Xie Chen’s unexpected success and turns to Master for answers.
• Master is shown to be manipulative and involved in supernatural or fate-altering schemes. He recognizes that Xie Chen has disrupted his original plan and regrets failing to suppress Xie Chen’s luck.
• Huo Wenye becomes increasingly direct and possessive toward Xie Chen. His teasing about being treated as a sugar daddy masks his desire for emotional intimacy and frustration that Xie Chen continues hiding things from him.
• The coach is exposed as cowardly and self-serving. Though he claims loyalty to Master, he immediately retreats when threatened.
• Lu Fei demonstrates loyalty to Xie Chen and confidence in his plans, while Sun Feng grows even more impressed by Xie Chen’s ability to protect and reward his allies.

3. Significant Themes

• Hidden identities and secret alliances: The chapter continues to reveal concealed affiliations, especially Xie Chen’s secret acquisition of the club and the coach’s membership in X Club.
• Power and manipulation: X Club and Master maintain control through fear, secrecy, and influence across different professions.
• Fate versus human planning: Master believes destiny and luck can be manipulated, but Xie Chen’s actions repeatedly overturn the expected course of events.
• Revenge and strategic justice: Xie Chen’s destruction of Xie Group is portrayed as deliberate, precise, and ultimately protective of those harmed by the company.
• Romantic misunderstanding and emotional intimacy: Huo Wenye wants recognition as someone important to Xie Chen, while Xie Chen humorously misinterprets his advances as financial demands.
• Loyalty and protection: Xie Chen’s arrangements ensure that allies such as Sun Feng receive compensation even after Xie Group collapses.

4. Character Interactions

• The coach and Qin Huai: Their meeting exposes the dangerous hierarchy within X Club. The coach tries to demand support, but Qin Huai silences him through threats.
• Qin Huai and Master: Qin Huai reports Xie Chen’s actions, revealing that both men are alarmed by how far Xie Chen has deviated from their plans.
• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye: Their confrontation mixes flirtation, jealousy, and comedy. Huo Wenye wants Xie Chen to reveal his secrets and acknowledge their closeness, while Xie Chen remains deliberately oblivious.
• Xie Chen and the livestream audience: Xie Chen cuts off the broadcast just as the interaction becomes suggestive, emphasizing the contrast between his private behavior and public image.
• Lu Fei and Sun Feng: Lu Fei explains Xie Chen’s financial preparations and reinforces the image of Xie Chen as a mastermind who protects his people.

Luo Mingyu’s father worried that Li Sifan was leading his son astray, while Luo Mingyu discovered how much his father missed him. Back at Li Sifan’s apartment, the two prepared to rehearse a drunken reunion scene, leaving Luo Mingyu suspicious of Li Sifan’s intentions.

• Luo Mingyu angrily accused Li Sifan’s sister, Li Jingfei, of exposing their privacy by writing Summer Memories, but backed down when Li Sifan reminded him he could not beat her in a fight.
• Luo Mingyu’s father accidentally played a fan video during a business meeting and discovered his employees openly shipped Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan.
• Boss Luo and Boss Li argued at a bar over their children and Li Jingfei’s drama, then parted without resolving anything.
• Luo Mingyu’s father returned to an empty villa and confided to his late wife that he wanted Little Luo to be happy and loved; Luo Mingyu overheard him while picking up his things.
• Li Sifan noticed Luo Mingyu was upset after visiting home, told him he could return to his father, and then asked him to rehearse their next scene.
• Li Sifan described the scene in which their characters got drunk and ended up in bed together, then suggested they have a drink first, making Luo Mingyu suspect another trap.

Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan rehearsed a scene while drinking, and their performance brought up feelings and memories from their past. Elsewhere, Xie Chen avoided revealing his secret identities to Huo Wenye, who kept pressing him with questions.

• Li Sifan challenged Luo Mingyu to drink beer before they rehearsed their scene.
• Li Sifan kissed Luo Mingyu during the rehearsal and questioned why he had not visited after studying abroad.
• Li Sifan accused Luo Mingyu of being with a woman when he visited, and Luo Mingyu explained that his rumored girlfriend was gay and his father had kept watch over him.
• Li Sifan praised Luo Mingyu's father and kissed him again, leaving Luo Mingyu baffled.
• Xie Chen refused to disclose his secret identities to Huo Wenye, citing his nondisclosure agreement and the need to take students to examine a murder scene.
• Huo Wenye asked Xie Chen about the murder case, then resumed questioning him about what else he was hiding.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Director Li prepares the cameraman to dramatize the students’ visit to a murder scene, especially highlighting Chen and Ye’s impressive abilities.
• News of the field investigation spreads across campus, causing students to compete eagerly for the limited ten spots. Although many fear Professor Xie Chen’s harsh reputation, they want the opportunity to learn from his expertise.
• Xie Chen selects ten students and warns them to disclose any medical conditions, emphasizing that participation is voluntary. He also jokes about a previous student who fainted after hiding his health problems.
• On the bus, Xie explains the case: four Harvard graduates—two corporate executives, one athlete, and one finance professional—were found dead in a rental apartment. Their deaths were ruled suicides by wrist-cutting, but the blood-filled scene left behind many traces.
• Huo Wenye suggests that the victims may all have belonged to the mysterious X Club, implying that the organization could have manipulated them into a group suicide. Online viewers reveal that the club is rumored to brainwash members and punish those who try to leave.
• The group arrives at a dangerous, impoverished neighborhood where the rental apartment is located. A police officer warns them that the scene is especially gruesome.
• The officer mistakes Huo Wenye for a student, but Xie teasingly dismisses him as an older-looking assistant. This embarrasses or irritates Huo, while viewers interpret the exchange romantically.
• On the eighteenth floor, the students are overwhelmed by the smell of decomposed blood. Xie enters the apartment in protective gear, but the forensic examiner attempts to stop him from entering.
• Xie calmly challenges the examiner’s authority, implying that the examiner’s incompetence is the reason senior officials invited him.

Character Developments

• Xie Chen: Demonstrates confidence, authority, and dark humor. He is strict but not genuinely cruel, taking precautions to protect students while still pushing them toward practical learning. His sharp exchange with the forensic examiner establishes his willingness to confront incompetent professionals.
• Huo Wenye: Shows boldness by openly criticizing X Club in front of cameras. His intimidating presence causes others to recognize that he is far more than an ordinary student. His irritation at being labeled “old” adds a playful, romantic dimension to his relationship with Xie.
• The students: Begin as excited spectators but become visibly shaken when confronted with the gruesome reality of the crime scene. They are still eager to learn, though their fear and physical reactions reveal the difference between theory and practice.
• The police officer: Treats Xie with respect and familiarity, joking with him while recognizing his expertise. He also instinctively senses that Huo is unusually powerful or important.
• The forensic examiner: Appears defensive and territorial, refusing to acknowledge Xie’s authority. His reaction hints at professional insecurity or incompetence.

Significant Themes

• Theory versus reality: The students’ enthusiasm for a crime-scene visit clashes with the overwhelming smell, blood, and horror of the actual scene.
• Expertise and authority: Xie’s reputation is contrasted with the forensic examiner’s possessiveness and apparent lack of confidence. The chapter suggests that true ability commands authority, while incompetence relies on rank.
• The danger of secret organizations: X Club is presented as a potentially manipulative and destructive institution capable of controlling its members, raising questions about whether the deaths were truly suicides.
• Performance and public image: The livestream and cameraman frame the investigation as entertainment, emphasizing how crime, fear, and the characters’ “badass” behavior are being turned into spectacle.
• Humor amid darkness: Teasing, online reactions, and Xie and Huo’s banter lighten the grim murder investigation and strengthen their playful relationship.

Character Interactions

• Director Li instructs the cameraman to emphasize Xie and Huo’s impressive behavior.
• Xie warns and guides the selected students while joking about those who conceal medical problems.
• Huo directly raises the possibility of X Club’s involvement, prompting shock from the students and excitement from livestream viewers.
• Xie and the police officer exchange familiar jokes, showing mutual respect and comfort.
• Xie deliberately calls Huo “old-looking” and reclassifies him as an assistant, provoking humorous embarrassment and romantic speculation.
• At the crime scene, Xie confronts the forensic examiner, asserting his superior investigative authority and setting up a professional conflict.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Chen provokes the coroner, who angrily demands that either he or Xie Chen leave the crime scene. The police choose to dismiss the coroner instead.
• The coroner attempts to complain to his superior, only to learn that Professor Smith is a specially appointed, high-ranking police consultant and that his students have official permission to be present.
• Xie Chen supervises his students as they examine the rental apartment where four people died. Several students become overwhelmed by the smell and rush outside to vomit, while the livestream audience jokes about their fear and Professor Smith’s intimidating teaching style.
• Xie Chen inspects the indistinct bloodstains and questions whether the police were truly the first people to enter the scene.
• Huo Wenye notices that ritual runes on the floor have been deliberately wiped away. Xie Chen identifies them as cult-related sacrificial symbols and concludes that the victims likely did not commit suicide.
• Xie Chen photographs the remaining evidence and promises to contact the police once he has results.
• Back at school, the students worry that their inability to endure the scene will cause them to fail. They are relieved when Xie Chen does not punish them.
• In his dormitory, Xie Chen tells Huo Wenye that evil cultivators were responsible and implies they will soon face consequences.
• Meanwhile, Taiyu Perfected One and Qin Huai discuss the crime. They believe the ruined scene contains no usable clues, but their conversation is interrupted when a possessed or disturbed Daoist bursts in, accusing Taiyu of killing him.
• Taiyu neutralizes the man with a blood-soaked talisman. The man’s robe reveals the ominous words: “A life for a life!”

2. Character Developments

• Xie Chen demonstrates his authority, confidence, and sharp investigative instincts. He remains focused on teaching even during a dangerous crime-scene investigation and quickly recognizes evidence of ritual murder.
• The coroner is humiliated after trying to assert control and discovering that Xie Chen outranks him through a classified police appointment. His anger turns into embarrassment and retreat.
• The students are shown to be inexperienced and physically unprepared for real crime scenes, but they are eager to learn. Their fear of failing Xie Chen highlights his intimidating reputation.
• Huo Wenye contributes an important observation by detecting the erased ritual runes, reinforcing his perceptiveness and usefulness as Xie Chen’s assistant.
• Taiyu Perfected One and Qin Huai are revealed as connected to the murders and confident that they have concealed their involvement. Their confidence is shaken by the supernatural disturbance at their hideout.
• Taiyu Perfected One displays powerful talismanic abilities by instantly subduing the intruder.

3. Significant Themes

• Authority and competence: Xie Chen’s expertise earns him official backing and allows him to override less capable authorities.
• Crime investigation versus supernatural evil: The chapter blends forensic examination with occult clues, suggesting that conventional evidence alone may not solve the case.
• Education through danger: Xie Chen treats the crime scene as a practical lesson, emphasizing discipline and careful observation even while the students struggle emotionally.
• Hidden conspiracies and erased evidence: The wiped ritual runes show that the perpetrators deliberately concealed their methods, while Xie Chen’s intuition exposes the deeper truth.
• Retribution and karmic justice: The phrase “A life for a life” foreshadows punishment and suggests that the evil cultivators may soon suffer the consequences of their actions.

4. Character Interactions

• Xie Chen and the coroner clash openly, with Xie Chen’s authority and composure ultimately humiliating the coroner.
• Xie Chen interacts with the police officer as an expert consultant, challenging the officer’s assumptions about the scene and redirecting the investigation toward ritual murder.
• Xie Chen supervises and intimidates his students while they struggle to endure the crime scene; the livestream audience turns their reactions into comic relief.
• Huo Wenye works closely with Xie Chen, identifying the erased runes and helping him interpret the evidence.
• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye privately discuss the perpetrators, openly identifying them as evil cultivators.
• Qin Huai respectfully reassures Taiyu Perfected One about the success of their plan, but the sudden arrival of the marked Daoist introduces an unexpected threat to them.

Taiyu Perfected One planned to use Qin Chuyu to eliminate Xie Chen, while the fathers of Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan disrupted the drama’s filming after buying out its investors. Li Jingfei arrived at the set as the two fathers argued over which son was the bottom.

• Taiyu Perfected One ordered Qin Huai to destroy a restrained junior disciple’s spiritual consciousness and send him to a psychiatric hospital.
• Qin Chuyu begged Qin Huai to get him out of prison, and Taiyu Perfected One agreed to let him make amends by helping eliminate Xie Chen.
• Luo Mingyu’s father and Li Sifan’s father arrived at the set, announced they had bought out the previous investors, and insisted on supervising filming.
• Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan tried to evade their fathers, who took their sons aside while Director Chen worried about filming.
• Li Jingfei finished her scene and went to the set, where she found the two fathers arguing about which son was the bottom and Director Chen trying to stop them.

Li Jingfei and Li Sifan manipulated their fathers into making promises over their characters’ roles, while Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan prepared to film a scene based on an embarrassing memory. In the United States, Xie Yongan reunited with the Taiyu Perfected One, who demanded his money in exchange for a chance at a longer life.

• Mr. Luo and Mr. Li argued over whether Luo Mingyu or Li Sifan would be the top, and Li Jingfei persuaded Mr. Li to let her pursue her career and Mr. Luo to accept his son being on top.
• After the fathers left, Li Jingfei and Director Chen decided to film the new mini-scene that night.
• Luo Mingyu recognized that the script’s bar scene reflected his and Li Sifan’s real encounter and remembered them sharing a bathroom while drunk.
• Xie Yongan was brought hooded to the Taiyu Perfected One in the United States, where the master offered to teach him longevity if he donated his money to the Taiyu Sect.